Hong Kong's Now TV keeps hold of Premier League rights

Now TV, the pay-TV broadcaster operated by PCCW Media, has retained Premier League rights in Hong Kong until the end of the 2021-22 season.

The broadcaster today announced an exclusive three-year contract with the league, and will show live coverage of all 380 matches per season, including 76 delivered in ultra high-definition format.

Ahead of the current season, Now TV secured exclusive coverage of the English top flight after the rights were surrendered by LeSports, the now defunct China-based digital media company.

Having been ousted in 2015 by LeSports in the auction for the rights from 2016-17 to 2018-19, Now TV went on to partner with the rights-holder to show matches. LeSports’ Hong Kong arm was liquidated in March last year.

Janice Lee, managing director of PCCW Media Group, said today: “PCCW Media has once again acquired all rights to the live Premier League matches with pay-TV, free TV and OTT rights. Being Hong Kong’s home of sports, the continued broadcast of the Premier League and the introduction of matches live in 4K reaffirmed our commitment to bringing the world’s best sports actions to our customers.”

Premier League games are also shown on the Now Player over-the-top app, and games can be watched back using Now TV’s video-on-demand service.

LeSports agreed to pay a total of nearly $400 million for the Premier League rights from 2016-17 to 2018-19 as the previous rights fee paid by PCCW approximately doubled.